A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest….*sighs*
"Okay where were you last night?"
Derek stared hard at Scott. Brooklyn was sitting on the edge of the bed with one leg swinging and brushing along the floor. She decided to let the werewolf do the talking as he seemed to instill some sort of intimidating presence over the new werewolf.
"I was at home sleeping," Scott repeated for the second time.
"Are you sure about that?" Brooklyn added. "Because when you're a wolf you don't always remember what happens."
"Well I remembered trying to help that bus driver," Scott protested. "Remember? It was the Alpha that attacked him!"
"Only because Derek pretty much held your hand to help you reach that point."
"Why are you interrogating me? What did I supposedly do this time?"
Brooklyn and Derek traded looks before she stood and hovered over the agitated teen. His heart was racing as he was becoming irritated with the Inquisition.
"Calm down," Derek placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "We just want answers."
"Look we may have a problem Scott," Brooklyn finally admitted. "Last night I saw something…."
"What do you mean something?"
"It was a werewolf," her eyes flickered with amber specks.
"How can you be sure?" Scott shot up. "Are you sure it wasn't Derek?"
"It wasn't," she shook her head. "If had been we wouldn't be sitting here having this discussion now would we?"
Stiles bit his nails as his knee bounced sporadically. He watched as the hunter shortly paced around. The hollow grey eyes were locked in an unreadable expression as Derek simply stared at Scott.
"I wasn't in the woods last night. Look I can prove it," he fished out his phone and showed the photo of him and Allison out on a group date with Jackson and Lydia.
"Well that settles it," Brooklyn studied the photo. "We have another one on the loose."
"Another one? Like another werewolf like Scott and Derek? Or like the Alpha?" Stiles bit harder on his nails.
"I don't know," Brooklyn sighed. "If it was the Alpha we're tracking it would've tried to kill me but this one didn't. It toyed with me, chasing me until I was back in the parking lot."
"Just what we need!" Scott flung his hands up in frustration.
"Look, maybe this one wants to be left alone. I mean the Alpha's bringing some seriously bad publicity for you guys," Brooklyn looked between Derek and Scott.
"She's right," Derek agreed. "If this werewolf wanted to make its presence known like the Alpha has it would've attacked or done something by now."
"Look I know it's the last thing any of us wanted right now," she ran her hands through her hair. "But if this new player stays low it could be that it wants the Alpha gone too. So I say we continue looking for the Alpha but in the mean time…."
She pointed at Scott, "You need to figure out how to keep Jackson off your ass."
"Leave him to me," Derek shook his head.
"Don't kill him okay?" She closed her eyes and shook her head lightly.
"I won't," he promised.
"If we're gonna do any killing it's gonna be either against the Argents or the Alpha…..Preferably both."
Scott and Stiles watched the interaction between the hunter and werewolf. He had caught the scent when he entered the room but wasn't sure if it was what his instinct was telling him.
"Did you two have sex?"
Derek's head snapped in the teen's direction as Brooklyn raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" She stuttered.
"I can smell him all over you," Scott said with a thin smug grin. "You two did it didn't you?"
"The mentality of a high school student," Brooklyn rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Brook and I did," Derek laid the issue to rest. "My scent is all over now," he got in the teen's face as he uttered, "All over her."
Brooklyn couldn't but help to smirk as Scott stood speechless at Derek's choice of words.
"No other wolf can touch her now."
"You know I shouldn't have asked," the look of disgust and sickness washed over Scott's boyish features. Brooklyn suppressed a laugh but failed as it came out like a sneeze.
"But you did," she let go and laughed.
"Okay gross! Wrong! Too much information for me!"
Stiles waved his hands around like he was swatting an invisible bug from his face.
"Look let's get back to the subject," Derek turned serious again. "Brook's been working on trying to find the link for the victims so you two lay low and stay out of trouble. But if you hear or see anything…."
"We have Brooklyn's number," Stiles waved his phone a little too excitedly.
"Right," he eyed the hyperactive teen with a dark eye.
Stiles shrank back as Scott grabbed him by the arm and dragging his best friend out the door.
Jackson ran through the woods as practice had to be cancelled due to the monsoon that hugged the town. The rain had been torrential all day, leaving the field a giant muddy mess that looked more like a swamp than an athletic field. Out here the trees had kept the ground a bit more firmer as he hiked up the trail then down the gentle slopes. He wanted to be alone as the anger continued bleeding through his veins.
Who the Hell does McCall think he is? He just suddenly gets great and now he's on first line! I had to work my ass off to be captain!
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tighter as he started back towards his car. The sun was setting as the trail widened and became easier to follow. The playoffs would be starting soon and he had to keep his mind and body trained and focused for them. But with McCall, Stalinski, Derek Hale, and now this woman called Brooklyn running around town it was becoming harder to stay disciplined where it was one nothing more than a simple afterthought.
Jackson remained convinced she was helping Scott along with Derek Hale. They had to be pumped up on the same crap as him! She was so aggressive and angry as Derek had been ill and…..bleeding.
The blow was sudden and precise.
The clawed hand struck Jackson across the back of his head sending the teen down the steep embankment. Mud and leaves plastered to his face and clothing as sticks and rock ripped and cut at his arms and legs. Jackson landed hard against a rock, leaving him void of breath as his heart raced. Was he being robbed?
"Please….don't hurt me!"
He spat his words with mud and rocks blended along his tongue. It hovered over the defenseless teen, watching him battle against the rising panic within. He was scared, frightened like a lost child as leaned down and inhaled his scent. Jackson winced and closed his eyes, hoping everything was nothing more than a horrid nightmare. It was only in human nature to resort to fear when control was ripped away from his or her grasp.
Even with the tough façade and arrogant attitude, Jackson was frightened. He thought of his mom and dad and how he didn't say he loved them when he had casually strolled out the door. Of Lydia whom he would never get to spend another heated night with ever again or even revel in the love of the crowd as the team secured another victory for the school.
He felt the hot flesh and sharp talons close around the back of his neck, slowly piercing the thin skin, watching as the wounds swelled with crimson as they dug deeper into his flesh.
Jackson cried out at the sharp intrusion, frozen in fear as he was unable to move. His breath was ragged and shallow as the pressure alleviated from his body. It raced away on all fours, vanishing over the hill and out of the line of sight before Jackson could begin to move a single finger. He slowly sat up, letting his heart calm though his body shivered all over. The burning sensation swept across his neck, causing his hand to slowly creep up and brush across the sticky spots of blood.
His blue eyes shot open, turning chilled steel as the sickening realization began to set in. What the Hell had happened to him? Was it a mountain lion that attacked him? Yes, that was it! A mountain lion attacked him and something scared it away! That's it! That's what happened!
His mind repeated over and over the great lie as his legs finally relented allowing Jackson to rise and stagger towards his car.
It watched as the marked teen continued in a daze towards his car. It wasn't the time to fully embrace him but soon it would be the right time. If it was going to destroy the Alpha it needed a pack. There was no way it would let the hunter and the other werewolf do it first!
"Derek," Brooklyn waved him over. "I think I found something!"
"What is it?" He rubbed her shoulders, feeling the tension resting between them.
"It seems that the bus driver, Myers, did have a previous profession: Insurance adjuster. And guess what he was the adjuster/underwriter of?"
Derek stopped the gentle kneading motion as he looked over at the laptop screen.
"He was involved in the fire."
"I'm sorry," she sat up and took him in her arms. Derek slipped his arms around her, letting her comfort him. The first large piece of the puzzle was finally revealed.
"Do you think Laura left any clues behind?"
Derek pulled back and looked down at the hunter. "Maybe….I mean I'm not sure."
"Maybe she left something at the house; left something somewhere safe so you could find them."
"It's possible," he said hopefully.
"I say we go back tomorrow," Brooklyn started stripping down into her sleep clothes. "But right now we should sleep. It's been a long day and my coffee high is crashing like the Hindenburg."
Derek nodded as he stripped away his own clothing and curling up beside her in the bed. If Laura did leave something it would be where no other person could find it; including the Argents and their allies. Brooklyn wrapped her arms around her lover, letting the quiet deep rhythm of his breathing lull her to sleep. Derek brushed back a few stray strands before kissing her gently and draping one arm around her waist.
Hmmm...Reviews weren't very high last time around...Come on gang I know you're out there... :)